Monday, August 25, 2014

As we drive off on board the safari jeeps, the dusty red,
clay road ahead of us is only just a modest start to our prolific wildlife
explorations for the day, at the Yala National Park – the Park is known to have
one of the highest leopard concentrations in the world while it is also home to
a number of Asian elephants, sloth bears, peacocks, crocodiles and a plethora
of flora and fauna.

Our driver, a young, funny fellow, well trained in leopard
spotting from any considerable distance otherwise unattainable to the human
eye, is a refreshing burst of jokes, combating our fatigue from the subduing
heat.

Nothing on the road yet, some complain, until we suddenly
come to a shrieking halt: an unidentifiable creature leisurely crossing our
path.

This is how daily life unfolds at Yala, Jetwing’s newest
hotel in the midst of some of Asia’s paramount wildlife. Blissfully
insulated twenty minutes away from the main road, what initially looks like
army quarters from afar is soon revealed to be a zen hotel surrounded by lush
greenery, set on a 38 acre land adjoining the Indian Ocean. The panoramic views
are sure to make you gasp!

Jetwing Yala exudes simple elegance from every corner,
while focusing on sustainability; it hosts the largest privately owned solar
park in Sri Lanka. Whether it’s the surrounding wild habitat, or the interior’s
colors and details, the property offers its guests a back to nature feeling.
All guestrooms (with a choice of Superior and Deluxe accommodations)
exhibit muted, earthy tones, with a splash of turquoise or red.

The King coconut I was zealously sipping out of as I walked
into my room, perfectly matched the green tones of the canopy bed. The Superior
room I would now call home was no ordinary space, but a spacious dwelling to
rest, dine and lounge on my very own terrace.

The finest feature, however, is surely the bathroom. Larger
than most hotel rooms in other parts of the world, this bathroom teased me from
the very beginning, with its showerhead under the clear blue sky and liberating
feeling, due to lack of unnecessary doors, bulky bathtubs and slippery floors.

One other extraordinary feature is the infinity swimming
pool, with seemingly fresh water from the ocean. Don’t be surprised to see
guests stay well into the night into their robes, having transitioned from the
pool onto the beach where cocktails are served. Jetwing Yala is just the place
to do so. From a blanket full of stars to a first glimpse of a burning sunrise,
your stay here is full of rewards.

Dining is another. From lotus curries and the island’s
spiciest dishes, to Western delicacies and Japanese delights, to a sinful
palette of desserts, Jetwing Yala is a gastronomic journey in itself that is
both diverse, as it is delicious.

So grab your Lion (the Sri Lankan beer, what else?!), and
join the beach party for the night. This may be Jetwing Yala, but no lions, or leopards,
for you tonight …

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Sri
Lanka has always been listed as a birder’s paradise, because of its many
different habitats, all easily accessible from the island’s capital: lowland
rain forests, montane forests and plains, wetlands and monsoon forests, each
with different communities of birds. 150 bird species are common in the dry
zone. Many of these dry zone species can be seen in the Sigiriya area.

Green
bee-eater

Grey heron

Malabar
pied hornbill

Spot-billed
pelican

Jetwing Vil Uyana is located in Rangirigama, which has
become known as a haven for birders with over 120 recorded species. The
resident naturalist will lead you on a bird watching tour — a treat for your
eyes and ears.

The Rangirigama birding trail takes the visitor outside the Hotel premises,
through lush vegetation and past villagers working in their paddy fields. After
about 15 minutes, the Rangirigama Lake will be reached. Here, it is possible to
see about 40 different species.
During the months of November to April, the number rises to 50+ species, as
there are many migrant birds in the area.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Muthurajawela – the largest saltwater coastal peat bog in
Sri Lanka, located on the west coast between the Negombo lagoon and Kelani
River. It is one of the island’s most important wetland habitats and together
with the Negombo lagoon forms an integrated coastal wetland ecosystem extending
over 6,232 hectares of marshland and mangroves. It is sheltering about 190
species of plants and over 200 species of animals, including over 100 species
of birds.

Take a boat ride to see a rich assemblage of water birds, including various
species of Herons, Bitterns, Egrets, Cormorants, Lesser Whistling Teals,
Pheasant-tailed Jaçanas, White-breasted Water hens, Purple Swamp hens, and
Common Moorhens. Common perching birds (such as several species of kingfishers)
birds of prey (such as the Brahminy Kite and Shikra), as well as mammals (such
as the endemic Toque Monkey) and reptiles (such as Water Monitors and Saltwater
Crocodiles), are also common. A cruise along the Negombo Lagoon, Muthurajawela,
Hamilton canal (built during the British period) and Dutch canal (built during
Dutch period) will take you through a lush vegetation of mangroves. The
Hamilton canal and Dutch canal starting from Kelani River near Colombo and opens
into the vast expanse of the serene waters of the Negombo lagoon.

Muthurajawela marsh has been declared as s sanctuary by the government in 1996
due to its vast bio diversity.

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Horton Plains National Park

(Journey to the end of World)

Horton Plains National Park is a protected area in the central highlands of Sri
Lanka and is covered by Montane Grassland, Aquatic & Wetland Habitat and
Cloud Forest. This plateau at an altitude of 2,100–2,300 meters (6,900–7,500
ft) is rich in biodiversity. In early singhala the plains are known as Mahaweli
Plains or Maha Eliya and Stone tools dating back to Balangoda culture (before 1000
BC) have been found here.The second & third highest mountains of the
country namely Kirigalpotta & Thotupola respectively are found within the
borders of the park. Park receives rainfall from both northeast & southwest
monsoons as well as inter-monsoonal rains with annual precipitation of about
5000mm. The area is headwaters of three rivers, the Kelani, Walawe & the
Mahaweli. Due to altitude the area is comparatively cold. Mean annual
temperature is around 15C and during colder months it will go down further.

The plains vegetation is grasslands interspersed with montane forest, and
includes many endemic woody plants. Most of the fauna and flora found in the
park are endemic and furthermore some of them are confined to highlands of the
island.

Though this was one of the best elephant habitats in the country they are
locally extinct due to sports hunting occurred during the British colonial era.
Large heard of Sambhur & wild boar are the most common large mammals in
Horton Plains. Endemic Bear Monkey, Rusty- Spotted and Fishing cats, Otter,
Black napped hare and Giant Squirrel are among other mammals. The national park
niches to largest carnivore cat species of the island the Leopard. Many species
of endemic & threatened rats & shrews are also found in the park.
Diversity & endemicity of reptiles (Lizards) and amphibians are remarkably
high.

Though this is cold highland plateau the bird diversity is very high. More than
70% of Sri Lanka’s endemic birds are found here.

The park is named after Sir Robert Wilmot Horton, the British governor of
Ceylon from 1831 to 1837, who travelled to the area 1836.Horton Plains was
designated as a wildlife sanctuary on 5 December 1969 and because of its
biodiversity value, was elevated to a National Park on 18 March 1988. The land
area covered by Horton Plains is 3,160 hectares.Photo credits - Ishanda Senevirathna (Naturalst, Jetwing St.Andrew's)